MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Cheap mobile tariffs: keep your phone, pay far less...
Ends Thu. Pay £4/mth for 20GB data, unlimited UK calls & texts - just switch Sim - it's the cheapest we've ever seen

While those who haven't switched have seen costs rocket by more than inflation, the price of the cheapest Sim-only deals (where you just switch the Sim in your phone to pay less) continues to fall. And if you're one of the 14m that are out of contract (see how to check in seconds), you're free to switch & save.

David emailed us: "We have just saved a massive £24/month. My wife had way more data than needed, so that has been cut down. Meanwhile, the new deal includes roaming, which was an extra on the old contract. Thank you for saving us nearly £300 a year." Use our Cheap Sim comparison to see ALL deals...

• Five Sim-switching need-to-knows...
  1. To keep your number, just text 'PAC' to 65075, then give the code you get to your new provider.
  2. Unlock your phone for free. Some phones are locked so they can only use one network's signal, but if you're on a pay monthly deal and out of contract, your network must unlock your phone for free. See Mobile unlocking help.
  3. Don't want to switch? Haggle. Mobile firms are among the easiest to haggle with. Full info in Mobile haggling.
  4. Need roaming help? See our Cheap mobile roaming guide.
  5. Members of cashback sites may be able to get deals even cheaper. In some cases, these sites can undercut promo deals elsewhere. Do check you're comparing like for like though. See Top cashback sites for more.

5 ways to cut your water bill...
Water saving! Some cut costs by over £1,000/yr

The forgotten utility. You mightn't be able to switch, but many in Eng & Wales can still save

Water bills rose by 6% on average in April across England & Wales, and failing Thames Water, having paid billions in dividends, is trying to get permission to hike bills by 59% over the next five years. Costs are rising, so we want to show you what you can do to cut them. Our Cut water costs guide is overflowing with tips, but here are the key ones. Water you waiting for?

1. Can you save £100s with a FREE water meter? Water bills are based on the old pre-1990 rates system, where the amount you pay's roughly based on your home's rental value, not your usage. So bigger homes tend to pay more, even if they're not consuming much water. Yet you can get a free water meter in England and Wales, which measures how much you use and bills you accordingly. Here's Martin's simple rule of thumb...
   
   
   

   
   ... then there's a good chance you can save, so use a water meter calculator 

   If the water calc shows savings are likely, but you want a more formal assessment, your water firm can do that. For some, especially in big houses with few people, the savings can be massive. Amanda emailed us in April: "Thanks to MoneySavingExpert.com, we moved to a water meter and our bill has gone down from £119/mth to £25/mth [a saving of £1,128/yr]. Thank you."
   
   Can you switch back? If you voluntarily fit a meter, with most (though not all) firms you've up to two years to change your mind and go back for free (see firm-by-firm switch-back policies), so if it doesn't work for you, don't worry.

2. If they can't fit a meter, in some ways you're in even more luck... Some with shared pipes or in flats are told by water firms they can't 'practicably' have a meter fitted. If so, ask for an 'assessed charge bill', which works out how much you'd likely pay if you got a meter. Then it's simple - if that's cheaper than your normal water bill, switch to it, if it isn't, don't.
   
   Vinny emailed us about this a couple of weeks ago: "I recently followed your advice and applied to get a meter fitted. My original bill was £966/yr. However, my supplier was unable to fit a meter. Instead they sent me an assessed bill and my charges were reduced to £422 [a £544/yr saving]! Thank you MSE!"
   
   
3. On Universal Credit, benefits or have low household income? Check out social tariffs and WaterSure. Social tariffs are offered by all firms and can reduce what you pay by up to 90%. There are 5.7m ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS MISSING OUT on an estimated £160/yr on average. See our firm-by-firm social tariff help. It worked for Shirley, who emailed last month: "Due to your advice, I changed my mother-in-law to a social tariff for her water bill. She's moved from £19/mth to £7/mth [a £144/yr saving] and no longer has to worry about how much water she's using. Thank you."
   
   Separately, if you have three or more children, or a medical condition such as Crohn's or eczema which means you need to use more water, you may be able to have your bills capped under the separate WaterSure scheme.
   
   
4. Freebies to cut your water use (good even with no meter) - 100,000s available, including £20 shower heads. Water firms UK-wide are handing out 100,000s of water freebies. They're especially MoneySaving if you've a meter, but even if you don't, as much of the water we use is heated, they can cut energy bills. Plus, see our 30 water-saving tips.
   
   
5. Can you get a sewerage rebate? It's generally assumed that used water creates a similar amount in sewage. Yet if you've a way of draining or storing water - such as a soakaway, cesspit, pool or big garden - that means some of the water you're using isn't going into a public sewer, you may be able to claim a rebate worth an average ~£35/yr.